It seems like our nation’s beloved sports are getting caught in the tangles of political playbooks. Once upon a time, basketball arenas echoed with chants fueled by slam dunks and buzzer-beaters. Now, it appears the court is looking more like a stage for political theater. Picture this: multi-millionaires, perhaps even billionaires, joining arms in protest while putting on politically charged apparel. It’s an interesting plot twist, isn’t it? However, this change in choreography doesn’t seem to be earning much applause from the audience. Instead, fans are voting with their remotes, and NBA viewership has decreased. It’s a bit like asking for a three-pointer but ending up with a buzzer-beater airball.

Let’s talk numbers. An NBA game now draws around 1.3 million viewers. To put it in perspective, that’s fewer viewers than your typical evening on Fox News. The same trend is trickling over to the NFL, where the gridiron has seen a decline due to similar feats of what many would call “political interference.” It seems like the more sports try to score points in political correctness, the more they miss the goal posts with their audiences.

And if you thought the halftime show would offer a break from this political saga, think again! The NFL has decided to spin the Super Bowl stage into something more provocative by choosing artists who are known for their edgy, tabloid-attracting antics. The lineup, featuring artists like Bad Bunny, has sparked enough controversy to resemble a herd of elephants stampeding through the room. Critics argue that instead of throwing the spotlight on football, the NFL has turned its halftime spectacle into a stage for social commentary, leaving some fans scratching their heads.

While there’s a crowd cheering for diversity and inclusivity, others are turning off the show, arguing that it’s becoming less about the game and more about pushing boundaries and agendas. It’s becoming a festival of cringe rather than a celebration of footwork and touchdowns. Yet, the NFL holds firm, reassured that this will be the “greatest show on Earth,” or so they claim.

To put it simply, what’s meant to entertain and unite folks is now caught in a parallel universe of political figures and polarizing performances. Perhaps the powers that be have forgotten that many tune in to escape the daily grind of political tug-of-war, not to encounter it while munching on nachos during commercials. As the Super Bowl approaches, it’s becoming clear that the viewpoints on this year’s lineup are about as divided as a football in overtime.